Foreign Journalists on the UK Election

Berlin Street Scene
Lesser Ury (1861-1931)
Photo Credit: Ben Uri Collection [CC BY-NC-ND] 

 For a German audience currently staring with disbelief at the upsurge of far-right populism on its own doorstep, the British elections are mostly a reminder of where the destructive cluelessness of populist politicians can lead a country...

But then there is something else: the rather bizarre fact that nobody seems either able or willing to talk about what has happened since the 2016 referendum to leave the EU. The eerie silence around the issue seems even more absurd given that a large majority of British voters now regret Brexit. Those who would like it to be rectified have to hold their noses at the ballot box and hope Keith Starmer is lying, or at least omitting parts of his plans for Britain's future.

Starmer might prove us all wrong, but seen from a continent that is just about to confront its own populist wave, his overly defensive tactics are hardly inspiring.

(Annette Dittert, UK correspondent for ARD German TV)

True. Brexit has very rarely been a topic of debate for the main political parties at this election.

Tarifa, Spain
James Kay (1858-1942)
Photo Credit: East Dunbartonshire Council [CC BY-NC-ND]

The tone of this election campaign is more civil, less polarised and more policy-based than what we see in Spain. At the same time, debate and interviews occur within a constrained framework of accepted truths: "net migration" is bad and everyone is tired of Brexit. Sadness and cautious hope are common emotions I have found in my reporting from the UK.

Pollsters and experts keep telling me Brexit is no longer a main public concern, as an explanation for why candidates talk so little about it. Citizens may be tired of it, but my experience is that Brexit comes up in almost every conversation, especially when discussing broken Britain. Whether the topic is polluted water, a climate protest chorus, shady university donations, tomato shortages, high-speed trains or conspiracy theories on traffic filters: Brexit just comes up.

When people learn that I am from Spain, they sometimes apologise to me, as if the Brexit vote was an offence against European neighbours, even clarifying that they didn't support leave. I take no offence, but I feel sorry for them.

(Maria Ramirez, Deputy Managing Editor of el Diario.es)

Beware of pollsters and experts! The effects of Brexit are constantly being aired by many ordinary people and especially by those who have small businesses and who want to export to Europe.

San Giorgio, Venice
Joseph Edward Southall (1861-1944)
Photo Credit: Victoria Art Gallery [CC BY-NC-ND] 

I have covered several election campaigns in the UK and abroad, but I have never seen anything duller than this one. The Tories are destined to collapse after 14 tempestuous years... 

To British friends and voters who advocate proportional representation, I always say: no system is perfect, but so far, first-past-the-post has saved your country from extremism or populist entities like the Five Star Movement in Italy...

If both [Rishi Sunak and Keith Starmer] showed more wit and a common touch, it would help them and British voters. Being natural and unpredictable has made the fortune of several controversial leaders, such as Boris Johnson, Silvio Berlusconi and Farage, despite the many flaws in their political records.

(Antonello Guerrera, UK correspondent for La Repubblica, Italy)

Calm, steady and boring or natural and unpredictable? In this particular scenario - calm, steady and boring please!

June in the Austrian Tyrol
John MacWhirter (1839-1911)
Photo Credit: Tate [CC BY-NC-ND] 

And now the UK, having delivered the rightwing populist project Brexit, may get a social democratic government just as most of its EU neighbours are battling the rise of far-right parties. As a result, the UK might become more pro-European than some of the actual member states. The irony is not lost on me.

(Tessa Szyszkowitz, UK correspondent for Falter, Austria)